27 – Unusual and interesting chess set designs

Both chess and product design have two things similar. Both of these require immense focus and a sense of harmony. Therefore, it is no wonder that product designers from all across the world come up every year with many innovative chess set designs. There’s no better way to pay homage to a game than creating chess set that shows your love. Depending upon your perception of the game you can give your singular touch to your work of art. It might sound superfluous to many, but true lovers of the game would know how cool it is.

While it’s one thing to play chess with the regular pieces, it’s an entirely different experience with something-themed chess sets. If you’re a chess fan, you would probably love to play the game on a unique chess set. Here is a collection of some of the most unusual and interesting chess set designs we’ve come across. Hit the jump to see them all…

1. Endangered Parrots of the World

If you’re concerned about wildlife and intend to play your part in its conservation, you don’t just have to be a chivalrous campaigner of a wildlife program or part of a big wildlife protection organization. You can even protect wildlife from home. This is perhaps what the Grant Dawson Collections, designer of the Endangered Parrots of the World Chess Set, seems to illustrate to the world. Comprising 32 lead-free pewter playing pieces, finished in 24k gold or sterling silver or even hand-painted, with recycled glass ball feet, the eco-friendly chess set is carved out of certified sustainable North American hardwoods (walnut and maple) which is adorned with a gold-plated Laelia xanthina orchid border.

Bringing luxury and sustainability together, which we don’t see go hand in hand too often, the evocative chess set not only presents a pleasing option for the lovers of the classic game of chess but also creates awareness about the endangered birds by depicting them in its pieces and border. The chess set measures 14.625″ long x 4.125″ high and comes with a box for safe and easy storage as well as transportation of the precious pieces.

2. Greek architecture-inspired set

The ancient game of chess, which dates back to the 6th century, is one of the most famous games known to man. Inspired by ancient Greek architecture, this set of chess by Finnish designer Krisztian Griz tries to break free of the usual forms and shapes of traditional chessboards. The design is limited to the chess figures, as it does not consider storing and transportation of the game.

The figures have specific characteristics that make them easier to distinguish, though it can take a little time to get used to them. All of the figures use the same basic shape to stand on; this makes them look part of the same family, but in the meantime each figure tries to emphasize its role and feature. Moreover, the chess set puts emphasis on the grip of the figures, for each piece has a different head, separating it from the rest. And the board, though not an integral part of the design, maps the play area on a slim surface with a raised column as if the game is played on a rocky island.

3. Monstrous chess set

Chess was inspiring enough with its dazzling combinations and complicated positions. However, someone liked thinking and ended up splurging creative madness across a monstrous chess set by combining chess with technology. On display at the Brickworld Convention, Chicago, is the Monster Chess set. Spread over 156 square feet and built from 100,000 Lego pieces worth $30,000, it took over four years to create this piece of art. It’s basically a game where one plays against a computer. Each chess piece is an autonomous robot with 38 separate NXTs that must be controlled, commanded and communicated with using a laptop running the chess program. One can play a normal chess game or replay historical match with varied opponents.

4. Star Wars chess set

Portraying the battlefield on a board with 64 B&W squares and 32 pawns is a game that utilizes your imagination. For those who commend war, the Star Wars is an interesting chess set that demonstrates warfare as an art. Blending luxury and the punk aesthetics, the Star Wars thematic chess set features a glass-etched board with Death Star imagery and 32 collectible pewter figures leafed in silver and gold. Playing a legitimate game on the board while manipulating the famous Star Wars characters with your fingers might be the designer’s obsession behind development of such an unconventional chess set that could be another valuable addition to the list of unusual chess set designs.

5. Aruliden’s Vibrator

Sex is a part of life. It keeps the life cycle going. However, those who are excessively involved into this thing surely knock the door of mania. Nevertheless, those geeks who live and breathe sex, here is a gift that’ll make them happy, the Vibrator Chess Set. The set will not only allow geeks to play but give them amusement to play with their sex instinct.

Designed by New York-based product consultancy Aruliden for the chichi erotic shop Kiki de Montparnasse, the Vibrator Chess Set is all about round-tipped pawns to knights shaped like anal beads and all the 32 pieces double as vibrators. And, like any decent or old vibrator for that matter, they’re made of medical-grade silicone and ABS as well as have got gold-plate detailing.

6. The WU LED

Chess is one of the most stressful games that require a lot of strategic work and patience to break the defense of the opponent. Adding modern technology to the classical game, designer Guan Yi Quan has developed an innovative chess set that integrate LED lights to illuminate in the dark. Presenting a foldable silica gel chessboard that rolls up for easy storage and transportation, the geeky version of the chessboard also features an onboard computer, in case you don’t have a worthy human-partner around to withstand your lethal moves.

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A Dr Prem Guides and Magazines

DesignBuzz.com – A Dr Prem Guides and Magazines Site. With 50+ web magazines and 5 million monthly readership, we invite you for Promotion, Review, Ranking and Marketing of your Content, Products and Services. Also connect with us for sale and purchase of websites. Contact Us Now.